Economics
Bachelor's degree · Northwestern University · Evanston, IL
How this program compares
Graduates of the bachelor's degree program in Economics at Northwestern University earn a median of $84,932 one year after completing the program. Nationally, bachelor's degree graduates in this field earn a median of $82,686 four years after graduating (middle half: $58,184–$116,323). Median debt is $15,250, about 18% of first-year earnings – a manageable level by common guidelines.
Economics (Bachelor's degree) at other Illinois schools
| College | Earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago Chicago | $92,075 | $13,395 |
| Wheaton College Wheaton | $62,889 | $21,000 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign | $58,921 | $19,500 |
| Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais | $54,169 | $26,991 |
| Lake Forest College Lake Forest | $53,529 | $27,000 |
| North Central College Naperville | $52,728 | $26,801 |
| Monmouth College Monmouth | $47,048 | — |
| Northern Illinois University Dekalb | $45,386 | $24,976 |
| Illinois State University Normal | $44,015 | $15,000 |
| Northeastern Illinois University Chicago | $40,004 | — |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale | $37,798 | $21,201 |
| University of Illinois Chicago Chicago | $37,767 | $17,500 |
| DePaul University Chicago | $37,151 | $20,000 |
| Knox College Galesburg | $23,222 | $24,498 |
Other programs at Northwestern University
- Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's degree
$224,402 - LawFirst professional degree
$210,979 - Business/Commerce, GeneralMaster's degree
$188,890 - Engineering, OtherMaster's degree
$162,147 - Engineering-Related FieldsMaster's degree
$144,879 - Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsMaster's degree
$140,444 - Information Science/StudiesMaster's degree
$131,093 - Community Organization and AdvocacyMaster's degree
$130,419 - Legal Research and Advanced Professional StudiesFirst professional degree
$129,670 - Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical StudiesMaster's degree
$124,451 - Medical Illustration and InformaticsMaster's degree
$112,816 - Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsMaster's degree
$107,097 - Information Science/StudiesBachelor's degree
$102,998 - Computer ScienceBachelor's degree
$99,981 - Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralMaster's degree
$99,283 - Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, OtherMaster's degree
$96,837 - Applied MathematicsBachelor's degree
$94,684 - Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansMaster's degree
$93,115 - ChemistryDoctoral degree
$90,302 - Industrial EngineeringBachelor's degree
$89,811
Frequently asked questions
How much do Economics graduates from Northwestern University make?
The median salary is $84,932 one year after graduation and $125,639 after five years.
How much student debt do graduates have?
Graduates who borrowed federal loans owe a median of $15,250.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release (Field of Study data). Earnings are for graduates who received federal financial aid.